WAR veterans used bar stools to fight off three raiders armed with a sledgehammer and Samurai sword who burst into their members' club as they watched the world snooker final.

Around 20 members of Upton Royal British Legion were in the club on Heath Road at 12.45am on Tuesday morning when they heard a loud crash as the men smashed through the door.

Jim Starkey, 58, of Upton, said: 'One headed to the cellar where the safe is kept and started hitting it with a sledgehammer.

'The other two ran into the bar area and shouted to get down. One had what looked to me like a Samurai sword in a case and pulled out eight inches of the blade.

'I just picked up a chair, I wasn't trying to be a hero, I just did it without thinking and ran at him with it. They seemed to get frightened and turned round.

'Some of the other lads hit the guy with the sledge hammer with a bar stool.

'A younger guy chased them across the car park but he got whipped with the sledgehammer and got a broken cheek.'

Police arrived several minutes later alerted when bar staff hit the panic button. Paramedics treated the injured man at the scene.

Det Insp Ron Pearson, of the Chester Specialist Investigation Unit, said: 'They clearly didn't expect that many people to be in there at that time.

'I have nothing but praise for their actions; they did not want their life interrupted by these people coming in.'

Det Sgt Gareth Lee, added: 'I think they were seen off through strength of numbers.

'They made their escape in a vehicle, but we don't have any details of what type.

'We've looked at CCTV but nothing has come of that and forensic teams have also been to the scene.'

Club and branch secretary Robin Kinsey said he was very grateful to the members, who were mainly in their fifties and sixties.

He added: 'Police suspect it might have been the same gang who took #7,500 from us on a bank holiday two years ago when the steward was on his own. He was quite shaken by that so I am grateful that the members were there for the steward and bar man this time.

'Four days' takings would have been in the safe that night. We are still recovering from the loss two years ago so if they had got away with any money it would have crippled the club.'